Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1887-09-17
PIGS FOR PROFIT.
The Proper way Of Caring For ana ManHs
InrG Growing pOrkcrs.

once knew Of a bunch OF pigs WHO"
ran in a field, ate grass, and rooted a
little: were fed u little shcllcd com
scattered on the ground, and two meals
Of a slop made of water and wheat mt
dlincs. There were nearly a o ol
them. and they were thrifty and pie
lures of health. They slept under i
shed all enclosed. except an open door
in the middle, through which they
entered. Their bed was dry, and u
fresh lot of straw once in awhile mada
it inviting. Here was Il real pig para
disc. and the sprightly ways and bright
looks Of the inmates were proof beyond
dispute, of comfort, health and rapid
growth.
By-and-hy winter came. The she'd
was required for sheep, and the pigs
were shut in n large building with u
lot of straw put in one corncrfor Il bed,
and the rest of the space for a feeding
place, and other uses natural to the
pigs, Outside of the bed and around
the troughS the place soon became wet
and muddy, and this wet and muddy
condition soon extended over the bed;
and if a new lot of straw was thrown
upon it,, in one day it would become
saturated. Here the pigs would pile
upon each other, and the steam would
rise from the mass of uncomfortable
and struggling animals until each II
was hot and wet,
The pigs were fed twice as much
grain as they had had while in the field
and shed. but still there was no visible
gain. They all looked gauut and star
ing, In Il few weeks they began 10
cough. avl some of them 10 pant. show
ing an affection of the lungs, or at
least more or less congestion. Not
long after the wcaklingS began to
die. They would be found under
the pile. Smothcrcd. These eases
of death were not those of cholera.
but of a disorder Known rs stupidity,
II is a disease which RACES among the
owners of livestock more than with
the animals, but unfortunately the ami
mails suffer the most, This man got
the scales off his eyes, saw things as
they were, and reasoned out a better
plan.
He put the pigs in lots of five, graded
according to size. He gave each lot u
pen by themselves, and to eat
and move about, in one place, and IL
bed in another. The bed was always
dry and the place warm. The pigs
which were not too fan gone recovered,
and the rest began to grow and did
well. Here are practical lessons, which
apply the world over, and the reader
can judge regarding them. A more
careless man, and one Indifferent to
the comfort of his animals, would have
left things as they were, and ne doubt
would have lost all his pigs in a short
time. There are many eases of just
such management with hogs which re-
suit fatally, and are ascribcd to cholera
or some contagious disorder.
am satisfied that hogs should never
be kept in Il hot or close place, or in "
basement where the manure is put. A
farmer recently consulted me about
putting his hog-pcns under his barn in
an extended basement. His plan was
to drop all of the manure from the
barn and cow stables into this base
mcnt, and let the hogs live on it and
work it over.
This would make the place damp and
more less wet under foot, the very con-
ditionS msuited to swine. as it was the
intention of the owncrt to wall it all in,
so that it would not freeze. 1t is not
necessary that a pig house should not
freeze, but it is necessary that the air
should be free from dampnesS and the
chilliness which is connectcd with eel
lar, or Il warm, damp place. Hogs are
very susceptible to colds, both inward
and outward. and to rheumatism. |
believe it is a law, which can not be
broken with impunity, that the human
species will become sick when confined
to damp quarters. The results are just
the same with swine. The air must be
dry and pure; above ground is the only
place to keep hogs. Hogs do not mind
the cold, if they can be dry and clean,
and can Get into good bed where they
can partially cover themselves, Tn,
bed should always be located where NJ
| drafts or currents of air will blow upon
them. They never do well when thit
is the case, and much Of tho sickness Of
hogs is due to such exposure.
A pigdocs not perspirc like Il horse
and on this account it should never b,
driven fast or chased by dogs. 1t onl1
takes a little h%urrying TO get Il pig Yer,
much heated, and often fatal results
will follow. If an overheated pig is cX
posed to the cold. it will cool too sud
denly, and be likely to have a turn o
congestion in some vital part. The,
will often worry each other to adegre'
that is dangerous from ov~erhcating
In hot weather | have saved a no,
which was ileshy from dying whel
ovcrheatcd (by Others chasing an,
fighting it). by hauling it to Il coo
place and throwing water on it. A
soon MS it could walk it was made {
move about Il little, and then left in
cool place.
When n hog opens its mouth to got
greater supply of air it must be lc
alone, or It will die from excessive hea
internally. 1t must be remembers
thai u few degrees of extra heating wi
be liable to melt the fatty coverings t
its internal organs; hence nc tim
should be lost in making itcoolcr whc
it is found suffering from cNccsSiy
heat, | have never had hogs do {
well as when they came out of doors t
eat, and had no protection other than
snug little building running north an
south fifteen feet, with Il door ut I'll
south end and the bed at the OPPOSITE
, The width was only eight feet. I'll
sty and yard were SO located that Il
a cold winds did not strike either. The
simple accommodations have afford,
me the best results in wintcring youn